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The influence of fixed splints on mandibular flexure.

The degree of mandibular flexure during forced opening of the jaws with various fixed splints in place was measured. Significant results indicate that: (1) all splints tested reduce the amount of mandibular flexure; (2) the reduction of measured mandibular flexure cannot be explained solely by tooth movement, rather it is indicative of a limitation of bony flexure by fixed splints; (3) extensive mandibular splints flex during forced opening; and (4) fixed prostheses involving many teeth do not completely inhibit mandibular flexure. Inhibition of mandibular flexure apparently increases as more teeth are splinted and more rigid attachments are used.

Adult

Temporomandibular joint disk displacement without reduction. Treatment with flat occlusal splint versus no treatment.

A flat occlusal splint has been extensively used in the treatment of patients with temporomandibular joint disk displacement without reduction, but no studies with untreated controls have assessed its effect. We randomly assigned 51 patients with temporomandibular joint pain and arthrographically verified disk displacement without reduction to be treated with a flat occlusal splint or to serve as untreated control subjects in a 12-month clinical trial. Pain symptoms disappeared in about one third of the patients in each group. Another third of the patients in the control group improved. Sixteen percent of the patients in the control group and 40% of the patients treated with a flat occlusal splint were worse at the end than at the beginning of the study. Joint pain and muscle tenderness decreased more frequently in the nontreatment controls than in the treatment group. A statistically significant benefit of a flat occlusal splint over nontreatment control subjects could not be identified in this study of patients with painful disk displacement without reduction. The use of a flat occlusal splint in this patient group should therefore be reconsidered.

Adolescent

Soft occlusal splint therapy in the treatment of migraine and other headaches.

Fifty-seven patients suffering from migraine, tension headache or tension vascular headache were prescribed a soft occlusal splint for night-time wear. Dental, psychosocial/psychiatric and neurological data were recorded prior to commencement of therapy and at the conclusion of a 3 month treatment period. A statistically significant number of patients presenting with migraine or tension vascular headache experienced marked improvement or complete relief of headache symptoms, but most patients suffering from tension headache failed to benefit from splint therapy. A majority of patients displaying intercurrent features of craniomandibular dysfunction experienced reduction in these symptoms also. There was a statistically significant association between TMJ improvement and headache type. Prior to treatment, patients who subsequently benefited from splint therapy in terms of headache improvement had experienced significantly fewer headaches than patients who failed to respond, although headache intensity and duration were similar in both groups. It is suggested that headache type and frequency may be prognostic indicators of the likely success of dental splint therapy in treatment of headache. Nevertheless, the use of occlusal splints in the treatment of patients complaining of headache in the absence of evidence of craniomandibular dysfunction should not be embarked upon until medical examination has excluded the possibility of organic neurological disorder.

Adolescent

Long-term functional results of prosthetic airway splinting in tracheomalacia and bronchomalacia.

The long-term functional results of splinting a collapsing major airway with a silastic Marlex mesh prosthesis were assessed. Six patients in whom follow-up has been longer than 4 years (mean 5.3 years) were studied. The prosthetic semirigid splints had been implanted in five children with tracheomalacia and one with bronchomalacia. Mean age at the time of airway splinting was 4 years (range 6 months to 8 years). At their last clinical evaluation, all six children were leading normal active lives. Three had mild respiratory symptoms not related to the splinting. The only long-term complication was a serous effusion that developed around the splint and compressed the trachea in one child 2 years postoperatively. Tracheal fluoroscopy, barium swallow, and computed tomography scans of the trachea in five patients demonstrated satisfactory tracheal caliber without airway collapse during expiration and coughing. Pulmonary function testing showed a mild increase in airway resistance in one child who had had a tracheostomy. These results demonstrate that the application of composite synthetic graft to a segment of a malacic airway in young patients can provide long-term relief from airway collapse without compromising airway growth.

Airway Obstruction

The reaction of the periodontium to different types of splints. (I). Clinical aspects.

To study the influence of splints on the periodontia over a period of time, Obwegeser and Merkx splints were applied on beagles. Clinical evaluation using different periodontal parameters was carried out before, and 48 h, 3 weeks and 6 weeks after splinting. It was shown that both splints act as plaque-retentive devices and provoke gingival inflammation. A statistically significant difference between both splints could, however, only be demonstrated for the plaque index.

Animals

[Influence of a splint in maintaining the opening of the first web in arthritis of the base of the thumb].

Trapezometacarpal osteoarthritis of the thumb includes an progressive aspect in the form of contracture of the first web. The wearing of a C-shaped bar splint is designed to prevent this contracture. The heat-molded plastic splint used by the authors is characterised by the following 3 points: reduction, stabilisation and comfort. The authors have systematically evaluated the action of the splint by measuring the variations in the M1M2 and TM1 angles on X-rays with and without the splint. Analysis of the quantitative data and of the X-rays shows an improvement in the opening of the first web and a reduction in the subluxation of the trapezometacarpal joint. Although they did not analyse the intrinsic process, the authors also noted a very marked reduction in pain (90% of cases) by wearing the splint.

Aged

Effect of hand splints on stereotypic hand behavior of girls with Rett syndrome: a replication study.

The purposes of this study were to replicate a recent report of the positive effects of hand splinting on the stereotypic hand movement of children with Rett syndrome and to evaluate the generality of these results to a different setting. Two 5-year-old girls diagnosed with early Stage-III Rett syndrome were introduced to hand splints in accordance with the multiple-baseline design used in the Naganuma and Billingsley study. Splint wear ranged from 30 to 50 days for the two subjects. Data were analyzed as a percentage of time and as actual time in minutes. Unlike the previous study, in which a decrease in hand-wringing behavior was noted, neither subject in our study demonstrated a decrease in stereotypic hand behavior or a subsequent increase in independent feeding skills when wearing the splints. There was also no evidence of increased hand wringing following withdrawal of the splints. The differences in ages of the subjects and different functional levels (stages) may have been contributing factors to the conflicting results and should be considered in managing this group of children.

Child, Preschool

Basic principles of splinting the hand.

This article presents the basic principles needed in the fabrication of static and dynamic splints. The principles are defined, and examples are used as illustrations. The biomechanics of dynamic splinting are described, with special attention given to low-profile dynamic splinting. Several low-profile dynamic splints are described, with current indications presented in case studies with supporting documentation for appropriate splinting protocols.

Adult

Have you tried the sandwich splint? A method of preventing hand deformities in children.

The prevention of contractures of the burned hand is an arduous problem in the young pediatric burn patient. Difficulty in applying splints, along with the time-consuming fabrication of complex splints, led to the development of the "sandwich" splint. This easily produced splint provides a means of preventing and treating hand deformities in this patient age group. Positive results have been noted with the use of this splint in conjunction with the patient's usual active physical therapy program.

Burns

Analysis of materials for splinting of the thermally injured patient.

Good results have been achieved in the treatment of patients with burns with new splinting materials and proper splinting techniques. This article focuses on the thermoplastic splinting materials Clinic and Spectrum (Northcoast Medical Inc., San Jose, Calif.) and the comparable thermoplastic products Polyform (Smith & Nephew Rolyan, Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wis.) and Orthoplast (Johnson & Johnson Orthopedics, New Brunswick, N.J.). Qualities such as self-bonding, recyclability, and rigidity were tested for these materials. Splint rigidity was measured by a calibrated hook scale and determined by the force per pound needed to bend the material 20 degrees. Spectrum and Clinic products were judged more economical and, we contend, they are therefore better choices for splinting the thermally injured patient.

Burns

Influence of an occlusal splint on integrated electromyography of the masseter muscles.

In order to examine the effect of an occlusal splint on the integrated electromyography (EMG) of the masticatory muscles, EMG of bilateral masseter muscles of 23 patients with temporomandibular joint disturbance syndrome (TMJDS), with and without an occlusal splint, was measured and integrated on line during maximum clenching. It was found that the integrated myoelectrical value of the masseter muscle on the involved and non-involved side was reduced with the occlusal splint. The absolute difference between integrated myoelectrical values in the left and right masseter muscles was reduced with an occlusal splint, but the relative difference remained virtually unchanged. These results indicate that the occlusal splint can decrease masseter muscle activity and thus exert a therapeutic effect.

Adult

Influence of splints and temporary crowns upon electric and thermal pulp-testing procedures.

The influence of different splints and temporary crowns upon the reliability of electric and thermal pulp-testing procedures was examined in 10 patients with vital maxillary central incisors and 10 patients with vital maxillary central incisors and 10 patients with unilateral pulp necrosis of a central incisor. The pulp-testing procedures were: (1) Bofors Pulp Tester, (2) Siemens Sirotest, (3) heated guttapercha, (4) ice, and (5) carbon dioxide snow (Odontotest). The splints or temporary crowns were: (1) silver cap splint, (2) acrylic cap splint, (3) Hawley orthodontic plate, (4) Saur's arch bar, (5) orthodontic bands, (6) stainless steel crown, and (7) stainless steel crown with labial surface removed. A reliable electrometric pulp response could only be elicited if the pulp tester was applied directly upon enamel and preferably upon the incisal edge. In this instance metal splints or partial steel crowns applied to the tooth had no effect on the pain threshold. A false positive reaction in case of pulp necrosis was only elicited when the electrode was placed directly upon metal which contacted neighboring vital teeth. The use of ice and heated guttapercha appeared to be of limited value, due to inconsistent pulp responses. Carbon dioxide snow gave a reliable response, unless applied on the incisal edge.

Adult

The Sheffield splint for controlled early mobilisation after rupture of the calcaneal tendon. A prospective, randomised comparison with plaster treatment.

Forty patients with acute complete rupture of the calcaneal tendon were managed conservatively and randomly allocated to treatment groups using either cast immobilisation for eight weeks, or cast immobilisation for three weeks, followed by controlled early mobilisation in a Sheffield splint. The splint is an ankle-foot orthosis which holds the ankle in 15 degrees of plantar flexion, but allows some movement at the metatarsophalangeal joints. It is removed to allow controlled movement during physiotherapy. Patients treated with the splint regained mobility significantly more quickly (p less than 0.001) and preferred the splint to the plaster cast. The range of dorsiflexion at the ankle improved more rapidly after treatment in the splint (p less than 0.001), and patients were able to return to normal activities sooner. Recovery of the power of plantar flexion was similar in the two treatment groups, and no patient had excessive lengthening of the tendon. One re-rupture occurred in each group.

Adult

The effects of hard and soft occlusal splints on nocturnal bruxism.

Occlusal splints are commonly used for the treatment of nocturnal bruxism. This study investigated the effects of hard and soft occlusal splints on nighttime muscle activity. The nocturnal muscle activity of ten participants was recorded while wearing a hard and then a soft occlusal splint. The hard occlusal splint significantly reduced muscle activity in eight of the ten participants. The soft occlusal splint significantly reduced muscle activity in only one participant while causing a statistically significant increase in muscle activity in five of the ten participants.

Adult

Mandibular alveolar ridge extension method using a surgical splint with porous hydroxyapatite (HAP) particles.

The mandibular alveolar ridge extension method is a surgical technique to extend the alveolar ridge up to the required level. Using a surgical splint prepared to meet the clinical requirements establishes the desirable alveolar ridge extension with porous hydroxyapatite (HAP) particles. Before the operation, a working cast of the extremely resorpted mandibular alveolar ridge is remodeled into its desired shape with paraffin wax, and the extended surgical splint is cured by clear acrylic resin. After subperiosteal tunnel dissection, the surgical splint is fixed to the mandible with circummandibular ligatures; then the HAP particles are injected into the tunnel. After healing, a treatment denture is cured between the artificial dentition and the surgical splint with self curing resin. In this method, the HAP particles are injected into the subperiosteal tunnel that is created between the surface of alveolar bone and the periosteum covered by the surgical splint; the migration of HAP particles completes the extension of the alveoral ridge.

Alveolar Ridge Augmentation

Effects of lateral rotation splinting on lower extremity bone growth: an in vivo study in rabbits.

To study the effect of lateral splinting on limb development, 14 immature rabbit femurs and tibias were marked with six parallel pins. Of these, the lower limbs of seven rabbits were splinted in lateral rotation for 3 weeks (1-year human equivalent). The static position of the foot in the splinted group was 23 degrees more lateral (p greater than 0.05) than in the control group. No significant difference was found in the axial alignment of the pins across the growth plate or diaphyses between the splinted or control groups. This study suggests that night splinting alters the joint relationships and not the shape of the femur or tibia.

Animals

Carpal tunnel syndrome: objective measures and splint use.

One hundred five adults with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) were studied to assess the efficacy of a neutral-angle wrist splint, and to identify criteria for splint referral. Ten observations before and after treatment were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. After splint use, 67% of the subjects reported symptom relief. T-test comparison of sensory latency of values before and after treatment indicated improvement for the total group. Chi-square and t-tests failed to reveal significant differences between relief and no-relief groups for gender, affected hand, presence of concomitant conditions, duration of symptoms before treatment, age, length of time between pretreatment and posttreatment nerve conduction testing, initial nerve latency of motor and sensory fibers, or the difference between pretreatment and posttreatment sensory latencies. A significant difference was found for motor latency; the relief group improved and the no-relief group deteriorated. Data suggest that splinting is most effective if applied within three months of symptom onset. Those with damage to the wrist structures or median nerve were least responsive to splinting.

Adult

[Long-term splinting of a traumatic upper permanent incisor with root fracture: report of a case].

Splinting was administered in a case of a traumatic upper right permanent incisor with root fracture. The patient was a boy, 11 years and 10 months old. The radiographical examination indicated that the injured tooth, that had already completed the apical growth, fractured horizontally at the middle 1/3 part of root. Clinical findings showed severe mobility of the coronal fragment of the injured tooth and a small amount of bleeding from the gingival sulcus, but there was almost no disposition of the coronal fragment and it was found to be vital in the electric pulp test. Immobilizing the coronal fragment of the injured tooth with the resin splint bonded directly to the tooth surfaces was prescribed. After 31 months, the pulp of the injured tooth remained vital, and after the elimination of the line of fracture and no symptoms of ankylosis were radiographically confirmed, the splint was then removed. From the case reported above the following implications were obtained: Although the previous investigators reported that the term of splinting teeth with root fractures was for 2-3 months, and prognosis of the injured teeth with root fractures having severe mobility of the coronal segments might be unfavorable, it was also indicated that the healing process by calcification might be possible with the use of long term splinting, as the pulp remained vital. In this case, it was found that the repair by calcification appeared initially on the proximate portion of the pulp at the fractured line, and slowly proceeded into the direction of the site of the outer surface of the root along the fractured line.

Child